T20IWC: Nissanka’s Explosive Century Crushes Australia as Sri Lanka Storm into Super 8


Co-hosts Sri Lanka booked their place in the Super 8 round of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a sensational eight-wicket victory over Australia at Pallekele. Riding on an explosive century from opener Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka chased down a challenging target of 182 in just 18 overs, with Nissanka becoming the first batter to score a hundred in this World Cup. The emphatic defeat has pushed former champions Australia to the brink of a shock group-stage exit.

The high-profile clash on Monday evening, February 16, had attracted massive attention. Sri Lanka were already placed at the top of the points table with two consecutive wins, while Australia entered the match under pressure after a stunning loss to Zimbabwe. Even the return of skipper Mitchell Marsh failed to turn their fortunes around.


Marsh’s comeback did give Australia the explosive start they had been missing. Alongside Travis Head, the duo smashed rapid half-centuries and raced to 104 in just 8.3 overs. However, once the first wicket fell, the Australian innings completely lost momentum. The middle order struggled to cope with Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling, and despite brief resistance from Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, Australia lost their last five wickets for just 21 runs to be bowled out for 181. For Sri Lanka, spinner Dushan Hemanta picked up three wickets, while Dushmantha Chameera claimed two.


Sri Lanka’s chase began on a shaky note as Kusal Perera was dismissed early. But that only brought together the devastating partnership of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. The duo launched a relentless assault, making life miserable for the Australian bowlers. Mendis registered his third consecutive half-century, while Nissanka surged past fifty with ease.

Marcus Stoinis finally broke the stand by dismissing Mendis in the 13th over, briefly raising hopes of a comeback. However, Nissanka was already in complete control. He unleashed a breathtaking display of strokeplay and brought up his century with a single in the 18th over, reaching the landmark in just 52 balls. Pawan Ratnayake provided solid support with an unbeaten 28 as Sri Lanka sealed a memorable win with eight wickets in hand.

Australia’s Fate Now in Ireland’s Hands

Australia remain third on the points table with just two points. While Sri Lanka have comfortably qualified for the Super 8, Australia’s future now depends on the result of the Zimbabwe vs Ireland match. If Sikandar Raza’s Zimbabwe defeat Ireland, they will also progress, leaving Australia eliminated in one of the biggest shocks of the tournament.

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